ST MIRREN boss Tommy Craig has thrown down the gauntlet to his misfiring strikers and asked them to ease the workload on Steven Thompson.

The veteran striker has been Saints' top scorer for each of the last three seasons but, approaching his 36th birthday, he has struggled with a groin injury at the start of this campaign and is a doubt for tomorrow's home match against Dundee United. Craig signed Ross Caldwell, Callum Ball and James Marwood in the summer in the hope they would chip in regularly with goals to take some of the pressure off Thompson.

Three games into the league season, however, and Saints have yet to score and have lost every match, although Caldwell managed a double on Tuesday night when Saints came from behind to knock Dunfermline out of the League Cup. Craig said: "Steven's a goal machine, that's the bottom line.

"In the last three seasons he's got 16, 15 and 16 goals and what I've been trying to get is someone to fill the gap between Kenny McLean on seven goals and Thommo on 16 or so.

"So we've brought in Marwood, Ball and young Ross Caldwell to cater for situations where your top man has an injury.

Callum's got good movement, holds it up well and I'm sure when he gets the first goal more will follow.

"Ross is quite a deep character, you never know what he's thinking, but in training he does what he did the other night regularly."

Craig, who won't make any more signings before the window closes, revealed he made a mistake by pitching Thompson in from the start on Tuesday night.

He added: "I admire the fact he had a go, but he didn't look right. I got it wrong on this occasion."

St Mirren will look positively to build on their midweek victory over Dunfermline for tomorrow's clash against Jackie McNamara's men in Paisley.

"I was delighted with the result but the performance was workmanlike and ordinary," added Craig.

"The most important thing was getting into the next round, but I won't waver from what I want."